Filipinos back bid to stamp out Abu Sayyaf at all costs

By John Grafilo and Girlie Linao

MANILA (DPA): The continuing military assault against Abu Sayyaf rebels in the southern Philippines must result in the "destruction" of the extremist group, otherwise the government would appear to have bungled the operation, analysts said on Monday.

While concerns mounted for the safety of the rebels' 19 hostages, including six foreigners, the analysts were unanimous in saying that the rescue of the captives must be viewed as a secondary objective in the massive operation.

"We can't please everybody," said political analyst Antonio Gatmaitain. "We have to put a premium on stopping the terroristic activities of the Abu Sayyaf. To get all the hostages safely would be a grand slam."

Gatmaitan said casualties among the hostages -- 13 Filipinos, three Malaysians, two French journalists and an American man -- are "acceptable risks" that the government must take in order to finally resolve the 21-week hostage crisis.

He warned that the country would face a much bigger problem if the Abu Sayyaf escapes the military attack, saying, "The world will have a different standard, but as far as the military and the government are concerned, we want to end the Abu Sayyaf activities."

The Abu Sayyaf rebels have vowed to retaliate and launch attacks against major cities in the southern Philippines. With more weapons, a speedboat and thousands of new recruits, security officials admit the group has increased its ability to carry out its threats.

The hostage crisis began in April when the Abu Sayyaf seized 21 Western tourists and Asian workers from Malaysia's Sipadan diving resort and brought them to Jolo by speedboat.

Some rebel leaders revealed then that the abduction was in retaliation for the attack against a separate faction in the nearby island of Basilan, where the extremists abducted more than 50 people, mainly schoolchildren, teachers and a Roman Catholic priest.

While analysts and officials "hope" and "pray" that the hostages would come out alive, priority has shifted to eliminating the cause of nearly five months of national frustration and humiliation.

"If Robot (Abu Sayyaf commander Galib Andang) escapes, it will be as if Mephistopheles had cast an evil and grotesque spell on our country," said political columnist Teodoro Benigno. "Robot has to be eliminated."

Noting that the military operation was the "biggest gamble" ever taken by President Joseph Estrada since assuming office in 1998, Benigno said that if the assault fails to capture top Abu Sayyaf leaders, "then the popular perception will be that Mr. Estrada has bungled the whole thing."

"Then we'll have a real political crisis in the making," he said.

While the United States and Malaysia have given the Philippine government a free hand, France has noisily expressed its disagreement for the "dangerous initiative" and stressed it will hold Estrada responsible for any harm on its nationals.

Officials said the three countries were informed in advance of the government's plan to launch a military attack after all peaceful efforts to resolve the crisis were exhausted.

Analysts said France should give the Philippine government credit for holding off the attack until the last minute and should stop "meddling" in the country's internal affairs.

"President Estrada should tell French President Jacques Chirac to go hell," Philippine Star publisher Max Soliven wrote in his column. "Estrada ought to respond to Mr. Chirac's bellyaching by reminding him: I don't tell you how to run France, so don't tell me how to do my job."

"In short, shut up, President Chirac! You're just making a nuisance of yourself in this time of peril," he added.